Sam Anfang plucked out a five iron from his golf bag and fetched a tee.

"You put the tee in the top of the club," he said, as he wedged the tip into a hole at the top of his grip. "And then you follow it."

Setting up in a classic golfer's pose, in a sunny room in his Stamford apartment, Anfang carefully pulled the club head back, avoiding the television and bookshelves behind him, and slowly brought the club back around. As he did so, he explained how concentrating on the tee kept the club at the right angle in its approach to the ball. An avid golfer, Anfang said of all the costly lessons he has taken, this free tip from a television program had been one of the best.

After a couple of practice swings, he looked up and stopped. "That'll cost you $50," he said, with a smile.

Anfang turned 103 on Dec. 31, and has already bought a new driver and No. 3 wood in anticipation of the coming golf season. "I'm optimistic," he said, during the recent visit.

He is one of the more than 900 centenarians living in Connecticut, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, which also found there are about 53,000 people 100 years and older in the country. And experts predict this particular population will grow, thanks to contributing factors.

Environmental factors, such as improved public health services (including clean drinking water), medical advancements and better sanitation have contributed to greater life expectancy, as well as a better understanding of healthy lifestyle changes.

Jones said it is crucial to take steps when one is younger to ensure that those later decades become a matter of thriving, as Anfang demonstrates, rather than merely surviving. Although genetics are important, lifestyle choices play an even greater role in how fast we age. "We can't stop the aging process, but we can slow it down," Jones said.

Dr. Edward Schuster, who is the medical director of the Tully Health and Fitness Institute in Stamford and is on staff at Stamford Hospital, keeps a running tally -- frequently updated -- of some of the best practices in his "How to Live to Be 100" list. Some tips add a few weeks, others up to a decade, but they overwhelmingly call on recipients to take control of their choices.

"Even if you do everything perfectly, bad things once in a while still happen to nice people," said Schuster, who also is Anfang's doctor. "Still, you can shift the odds well in your favor."

Anfang said Schuster has played a large role in his longevity -- mainly because the doctor was the one noticed 20 years ago that Anfang had clogged arteries and needed a heart operation. The surgery was performed by other doctors, but Anfang said Schuster and his list have helped him to keep going strong long after his procedure.

Anfang, who called the list "fantastic," said there is one item that he makes sure to follow. "One thing (Dr. Schuster) says is to be skinny."

Schuster's point is that being obese can be a threat to longevity. He urges people to follow a diet which features plenty of vegetables, fruits, certain fish, olive oil and nuts as opposed to a high-sugar, high trans-fat items.

"I eat very little," Anfang said, although he makes sure to get the daily nutrients he needs. "Food was never all that important to me."

Among other things, Schuster urges people not to smoke, to go for routine screenings, to manage their stress, to follow the Mediterranean diet, get enough sleep, exercise precaution and to know their family's disease history, so they can catch issues early.

"I urge patients to be proactive and to do the right things," Schuster said. "Behavior is still the most important thing."

Others have gathered their own tips on living past the century mark. For years, Redding author and speaker Lynn Peters Adler has been meeting centenarians across the country. Her book, "Celebrate 100: Centenarian Secrets to Success in Business and Life," which she co-wrote with Steve Franklin, reveals a collective wisdom that suggests living long and well is a mix of genes, lifestyle choices, luck and staying positive.

Adler founded the National Centenarian Awareness Project, which advocates for and celebrate those who have hit the century mark, 15 years ago. She said there are a few that all centenarians seem to share.

"The first one is a love of life and a healthy sense of self-esteem," she said. "The second is a positive, yet -- and this is so important -- a realistic attitude. The third is a strong spiritual or religious belief and the fourth is personal courage. That is extraordinarily important. A lot of things can go wrong when people get old."

Coping with those changes can be challenging, Adler said, and those who live long lives are adept at managing those challenges. "They have a remarkable ability to share life at every turn; to accept the losses and changes that come with aging and not let it stop them. Centenarians are not quitters."

That final point is an important lesson to learn, according to Bill Wein, 100, who lives at The Jewish Home in Fairfield, which is run by Jewish Senior Services. Wein, who played baseball and basketball and was a boxer when he was younger, said one's body inevitably changes with age. One might not hear or see as well as they once did, he said, but the important thing is "you try to adjust."

On a recent morning, Wein and a few of his peers gathered for a singalong at the home. When asked for their secrets, Wein said his was staying active. For Laura Burdo, 100, it was eating well. For Theresa "Midge" Vas Dunes, 101, it was about doing good for others. And, for Molla Rosen, 105, it was about keeping a sense of humor and remaining resilient. It also helped, they said, to spend time with others, whether singing, playing bingo or just being social.

That social support can be crucial when it comes to weathering later life issues, said Roni Lang, a licensed clinical social worker at Greenwich's Center for Healthy Aging. Friendships, a sense of humor, giving back and seeking help when it is needed can be a valuable buffer when it comes to the stresses of aging. "How you handle life's setbacks really makes a difference," she said. "If you learn to be more adaptive, you can learn to be more resilient."

Increasing the odds of living well tomorrow has the added benefit of helping a person thrive in the present. For instance, Vas Dunes said she never gave much thought as to how old she might get, but she did live with intention. "Be gracious is No. 1. Take it in stride. Do your share for your community. Keep active," she said. "And, help the guy who is down -- it is everything."

Christina.hennessy@scni.com; @xtinahennessy

Tips for healthy aging

Here are a just a few of the ways you can get healthier now and improve your chances for later:

Quit smoking.

Make sure to exercise at least four times a week, and, as you get older, incorporate balance training into the routine.

Take those routine screenings and be proactive in your health.

Eliminate unnecessary stress.

Try to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day.

Keep active, maintain a healthy diet and control your weight.

Stay connected with others, and develop friendships with people of all ages. (In fact, those who are married tend to live longer.)